System, apparatus and method for light diffusion and testing for fixtures

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for light diffusion and testing fixtures. The system includes remote derangement controls to test the operation of a battery backup system associated with a fixture. The light fixture may incorporate light diffusion features including back mounted light sources, channeled corners in a translucent material and/or pitted surfaces of a translucent material. The system may further include remote monitoring elements and/or sensors to evaluate proper operation of the light diffusion characteristics of a fixture during operation of the battery backup system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for remotely testing fixtures comprising:
 a light fixture designed to emit an approximately uniform light distribution pattern; 
 a power source connected to the light fixture; 
 a test control operable to remotely disable transmission of power from the power source to the light fixture, wherein the test control is a line connection that is positioned in a location remote from the light fixture; and 
 a power backup system comprising an alternative power source and a backup control operable to transition between the power source and the alternative power source, wherein the backup control transitions to the alternative power source based upon a loss of power from the power source. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein said light fixture comprises a sign having a circuit board with a plurality of lights spaced behind a translucent lens with light diffusion characteristics, wherein the light diffusion characteristics facilitate said approximately uniform light distribution pattern from the translucent lens. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein said light diffusion characteristics comprise at least one of a channel and a pitted surface. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of lights are mounted on a back of the circuit board. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein said test control creates a break in a power line between said power source and said light fixture in order to disable the transmission of the power to the light fixture. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein said test control includes a manual control operable by a user to disable the power to the light fixture. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein said light fixture is viewable by said user during the operation of the manual control by said user. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein said test control includes an electronic control operable to disable the power to the light fixture. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  wherein said electronic control includes a wireless communication element in operable communication with a computer wherein said computer is located at a second remote location. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein said computer is in operable association with a sensory device, wherein the sensory device is configured to monitor the operation of the light fixture. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10  wherein said sensory device is at least one of a camera, a thermal sensor and an optical sensor. 
     
     
       12. A system for remotely testing fixtures comprising:
 an electronic fixture; 
 a power source connected to the electronic fixture; 
 a test control operable to remotely disable transmission of power from the power source to the electronic fixture, wherein the test control is a line connection that is positioned in a location remote from the electronic fixture; and 
 a power backup system comprising an alternative power source and a backup control operable to transition between the power source and the alternative power source, wherein the backup control transitions to the alternative power source based upon a loss of power from the power source. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein said test control creates a break in a power line between said power source and said electronic fixture in order to disable the transmission of the power to the electronic fixture. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12  wherein said test control includes a manual control operable by a user to disable the power to the electronic fixture. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein said electronic fixture is a light fixture viewable by said user during the operation of the manual control by said user. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12  wherein said test control includes an electronic control operable to disable the power to the electronic fixture. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16  wherein said electronic control includes a wireless communication element in operable communication with a computer wherein said computer is located at a second remote location. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17  wherein said computer is in operable association with a sensory device, wherein the sensory device is configured to monitor the operation of the electronic fixture. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein said sensory device is at least one of a camera, a thermal sensor, an audio sensor and an optical sensor. 
     
     
       20. A method for remotely testing a light fixture comprising:
 setting a sensory device to observe said light fixture, wherein said light fixture is associated with a power source and a power backup system comprising an alternative power source and a backup control operable to transition between the power source and the alternative power source, wherein the backup control transitions to the alternative power source based upon a loss of power from the power source; 
 triggering a test control device to remotely disable transmission of power from the power source to the light fixture causing said loss of power from the power source, wherein the test control device is a line connection that is positioned in a location remote from the light fixture, and wherein said triggering is initiated from the remote location; and 
 recording data regarding test characteristics and the observances from said sensory device in an electronic storage device, wherein said observances reflect operation of said light fixture using the alternative power source. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein said sensory device is at least one of a camera, a thermal sensor, an audio sensor, a voltmeter, an electrical current sensor and an optical sensor. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20  wherein said method is controlled by a computer. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein said computer is wirelessly associated with at least one of said test control device and said sensory device. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20  comprising the step of displaying an output from said sensory device. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20  wherein said sensory device is configured to monitor light emissions from said light fixture. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  further comprising the step of reporting a mapping of the light emissions from said light fixture. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of comparing the observances of the sensory device with previously stored observances of the light fixture.